Sonia-Mamata chemistry regales election gathering

Lalgola (West Bengal) April 27 (IANS) Campaigning jointly for the first time since the 2001 West Bengal assembly elections, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee left a marked impression on their audience in a West Bengal town Monday. In a display of unity that brought back memories of the Rajiv Gandhi era, a beaming Banerjee was seen whispering to Gandhi on stage at the rally in Lalgola in Murshidbad district in support of External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who is contesting the Jangipur seat in the district.

“I am very happy that today Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee is with us on the stage,” said Gandhi, who arrived at Lalgola around 11 a.m., flanked by Mukherjee and the Trinamool chief, as part of her day-long election campaign in the state.

Gandhi called Banerjee on to the dais and asked her to sit by her side.

The duo was also seen closely talking to each other on the stage, while other leaders were busy delivering speeches during the rally.

“We’re very happy that the Congress and Trinamool Congress have formed an alliance in the state. Now we’ll fight together against the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M),” said Tuntuni Das of Jagannathpur village who attended the rally.

“We are very hopeful of a good result in the coming election as we’re feeling more strong and united after this alliance,” Sahera Bibi of Ratunbihar said.

In her address, Banerjee called on the people to support the Congress and Trinamool Congress candidates in the coming general election to oust the communists from the state.

Terming Murshidabad as the district of “starvation, poverty and human trafficking”, she said: “We’ve jointly taken a pledge to defeat the ruling Left Front government in the state. And that will be only possible if people vote for us in the election.”